Smelter construction, which was announced in 2015, is an extension of the company’s commitment to local beneficiation of minerals and is in line with the plans of the government of Zimbabwe for vital economic growth.

Custom-designed and cost-efficient, the smelter is sized to meet Unki’s current production, while retaining the capability for upgrades to meet future increased mine production.

Furnace heat-up began in early August last year, matte was produced at the end of September and the export of crushed matte has been under way since mid-November.

The scope of the facility is the primary smelting of Unki concentrate to produce a furnace matte which is crushed on site and transported to the Anglo American Platinum Converter process facility in Rustenburg, South Africa, for further processing.

In commending the investment, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said the local beneficiation of platinum group metals (PGMs) was having a positive socioeconomic effect, which needed sustained attention.

Unki chairperson James Maposa said the smelter would increase the operation’s processing capacity significantly.

He added that the smelter would lower the amount of PGM concentrate being exported and increase foreign currency earnings.